Common air cargo facility soon near Chennai airport

Chennai: It would soon be possible to walk into a common user domestic terminal at Chennai airport to send parcels and courier packets by air instead of going in search of airline offices to book the cargo.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already earmarked three sheds next to the international cargo terminal for creation of this common user facility and talks are underway with the Container Corporation of India (Concor) to operate it.

While the proposed common facility would be helpful to users, the concept is not new, as AAI has been operating a similar terminal at Coimbatore airport for more than a year now.

“Chennai airport has to go a long way in improving facilities for cargo handling. We are still using ancient ways of doing business. It is very important to have a common user facility,” said Cargo solutions providing company ECS group MD (India) Rajendra Dubey.

According to Mr Dubey, decent space with an x-ray machine is enough to start a common user terminal. “Every other metro city in the country has a common user terminal for cargo. In Chennai, we are told that a process has begun to establish one. But it is taking a lot of time. The terminal will benefit all stakeholders, including the government, AAI, cargo agents and the customers,” he added.

A senior cargo official at a foreign airline said that a common user terminal would facilitate quicker movement of cargo from domestic flights to international flights. “All domestic airlines would be available in one place and the customers would be able to choose the next immediate flight to transport their cargoes to a particular destination instead of running around for different airlines,” the official added.

Moreover, the common user facility would help in centralising the movement of domestic cargo and standardising the cost, a senior AAI official said. In transporting fresh fruits, flowers, cotton, textiles, pharma products, electronic items and mobiles phones, the domestic air cargo segment has been vibrant in India.